Former Australian team head coach Justin Langer has called for Australia not to produce flat tracks for the upcoming Test series against India. Instead, he wishes to see traditional bouncy and pacy pitches to fight back India’s advantage Down Under. With India winning the previous two series Down Under, the pressure is on the hosts as they hope to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as well.

Writing in his column for The Nightly, Langer added, “If Australia is organised and smart this summer, it will ensure that visitors see plenty of pace and bounce. History should remind them that doing India a favour by playing them on flat pitches proves counterproductive, an error and a lesson from the last two series. Australian curators were too kind the last two times around. The pitches became flat, and India capitalised. It would be unforgivable to make the same mistake again. Adapting to foreign conditions takes time and effort.”

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The West Australian shared that India’s Bengaluru Test against New Zealand and the fixture in Adelaide four years ago are proof of what pitches can affect India’s batting order as well.

“Not for a second am I encouraging anything other than great Australian pitches that produce pace, bounce, and entertaining, winning outcomes in this part of the world. But if Bangalore last week and Adelaide four years ago are anything to go by, pitches that allow the ball to bounce and move will give Australia their best chance of beating India at home for the first time in three campaigns,” Justin Langer concluded.